Campus Housing:
It's not to bad. I initially thought my dorm room was too small but once I arranged everything, it was all I needed. The community bathrooms are not bad either depending on where your room is and how far you'd have to walk. They're all pretty clean. I feel like housing is pretty expensive for such a small place, you can find cheaper apartments elsewhere. However, living on campus is so convenient.

Parking:
Parking on campus is expensive and spots are limited. Applying for a parking pass is a hassle and very expensive. Parking off campus is cheaper, but cannot get you close to campus (you'll still have a 15-20 minute walk to class, generally). Parking fines are expensive too- more expensive than the city of Athens parking fines.

Scholarships:
The financial office will always have you on hold (once I was on hold for 35 minutes before finally hanging up), never answer the phone, and will take at least 5 days to respond to any email you send. You almost have to go in their office to get anything out of them, and even then it's not a guarantee.

Athletics:
Football athletes need to step their game up, and I don't mean on the field. Off the field, athletes are rude, inconsiderate, lazy, and uninterested in anything but their sport. You might catch some getting involved with things in the community or school, but that's only because they're required to. Aaron Murray once committed to helping UGA HERO's (a campus organization that raises money and awareness for local kids infected with or affected by HIV/AIDS) and then bailed 5 minutes before the event because he "was tired from practice" even though the season was over. You can catch other athletes sleeping through class because they have a notetaker paying attention for them. Football athletes give other athletes a bad rap.

Transportation:
Campus buses are generally late and are known to be involved in several accidents throughout the school year. Drivers are usually students who will not even wait .5 seconds for someone who is obviously running to catch their bus (then that person is stuck to wait for the next bus which will arrive 20 minutes later and probably late). The drivers that aren't students are the only nice ones! If you don't live on-campus or downtown, the bus system won't work for you. You'll have to drive to campus or drive to a campus bus stop.

Party Scene:
Whether you are Greek or not, you can always find a party. Greek fraternities host great parties every semester, Greek sororities host charity events that are fun, downtown venues host concerts and parties that are always a good time. Downtown and Milledge Ave (where most Greek houses are) are convenient to campus and on campus bus routes.

Weather:
We're in Georgia- some days it's hot, some days it's cold, some days you get a little of both. However, I will say that when it is cold outside, UGA will jack up the heat so that it feels like a sauna inside and you have to immediately strip down once inside or you'll sweat through your clothes.

Campus Housing:
Many of the dorms are old and small. Though most are close to your classes, the nicer dorms are difficult to get into. Appealing a dorm selection is tedious and of no use because they will end up putting you back in the same dorm but two floors higher even though you requested for a completely different dorm. The smaller dorms are the way to go because they aren't impossible to get in to (like the newer, nicer dorms reserved for athletes), and they usually have a sink in the room. Some of the RAs do a good job at hosting several events throughout the year for residents, but resident input or advice is usually not sought out when planning those events.

Greek Life:
Greek-life is great, and I'm not partial. I'm in a sorority, but I can see both sides. It is fairly difficult to get in to a Greek chapter, but it is very difficult to get the "chapter of your dreams" coming into recruitment. Many who don't get their first chapter of choice will drop out and have a bitter attitude toward Greek life overall. Non-Greeks may act like they don't like Greeks, but they will not deny a party invitation or help with homework from a Greek. I feel like their is a stigma of Greek life at any school, but the stigma at UGA just doesn't fit.

Health & Safety:
It's difficult for me to rank the safety and security on campus. I feel safe because much of campus is concentrated in one area, and I feel like Athens is a generally safe area. The only time I have ever seen campus police has been seeing them give out parking tickets and giving out seat belt tickets to students picking up friends on campus from class.

Overall ExperienceWhat's this?

One of the most amazing things about students at UGA is that I have never heard one person say they don't like being here. UGA and Athens have so much to offer in so many different categories, that there really is something for everyone. The positive energy of 30,000 people who are happy to be here is captivating, and something you will instantly want to be a part of. It will not take long before you regard Athens as your second home, and after about a week, most students forget how big a school it is.

It's exciting to be in Athens because there is always something going on, whether it is entertainment, a demonstration, job fairs, or just a chance to hang out with people you just met who are now your best friends. Students are encouraged to explore their talents and make the most of their four years here, and most students are able to achieve their ultimate "college experience." Sometimes, it seems like we are all characters in some cheesy teen movie because college life in Athens is so classic, but academically, socially, and personally, this school seems to have changed most of us for the better.